Musikman,

Not meaning to deflate your bubble of excitement, I think that in some ways PAx user interface is a step backwards from i30. On I30 there were two sets of buttons for sound/performance and style selection, with each set containg 8 buttons for group selection and 8 buttons for individual item selection. This way it was possible to navigate around the instrument without touching the screen at all during the performance. I have tried that and found it to be a very efficient way of making changes during a performance.

With PAxx you select the group using a button (must press once or twice depending if you want upper or lower selection), and then look at the screen to make the individual selection there. This is VERY inefficient for a live performer. No matter how fast the screen is, first of all, the performer must take his eyes off the audience, look at the buttons, refocus, look at the screen, refocus again, make a selection, and then wait for a visual confirmation that his change was indeed made. Even the PA80 is (marginally) better in this respect, as the buttons (in fixed positions) provide a tactile feedback to the player. The touch screen is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for the mechanical buttons for an instrument intended for live performance. It looks sexy in the music store (or at a NAMM show). It makes it easy for studio usage and setup activities, but during the actual performance it is a big hinderance.

Once again, my contention is that KORG (and many others) should have listened to the users, of which this is a very representative forum, instead of assembling a bunch of unnecessary features and missing out on the important things.

Regards,
Alex

[This message has been edited by Alex K (edited 07-28-2003).]